Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza recently hosted a high-level meeting with Minister Atty. Ubaida C. Pacasem and officials from the Ministry of Finance, and Budget and Management (MFBM) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The dialogue aimed to bolster the ongoing coordination between the national tax authority and the Bangsamoro Government.
The meeting centered on streamlining the collection and remittance processes to ensure the efficient release of the BARMM’s share of national internal revenue taxes, as mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Both agencies agreed to prioritize several modernization and policy-alignment projects, including:
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Digital Transformation: Automating the issuance of BIR certifications required for the release of the BARMM revenue share.
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Systems Synchronization: Aligning the business processes and collection functions of the Bangsamoro Government with BIR standards.
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Data Sharing: Exploring a formal agreement to enhance transparency and information exchange between the two governing bodies.
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Policy Harmonization: Formulating clear guidelines on BOL provisions and collaborating on the Revenue Administration Transition Plan for the region.
Commissioner Mendoza expressed his commitment to supporting the BARMM’s fiscal autonomy through technical collaboration and digital integration. By harmonizing these systems, both parties aim to reduce bureaucratic friction and ensure that the regional government has the resources necessary for its continued development.
The BARMM delegation, led by Minister Pacasem, included:
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Sittie Amirah K. Pendatun, Bangsamoro Director General
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Naila Z. Dimaraw, Bangsamoro Treasurer
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Hanamir N. Emblawa, OIC, Bangsamoro Revenue Office
Commissioner Mendoza was supported by key BIR technical heads, including Atty. Brianna Kay T. De Los Santos (Legal and Legislative), Florydette A. Cuales (Assessment Performance Monitoring), Zenaida U. Floresca (Revenue Accounting), and Andreliza R. Cala (Data Warehousing and Systems Operations).
